Page 135 of Connectio

Alexis takes the stiletto from me, lowers to her knee, and slips it onto my foot. “Where do you think it is?”

I wrack my brain for the smallest of seconds before recognition dawns. “Will!” I laugh. “Of course he has it.”

Carly smiles then collects three bouquets and hands one to Fi and one to Alexis. They all turn to me, each of them stunning in powder-blue, body-hugging gowns.

“Are you ready?” Carly asks

“No. How am I going to walk down the aisle in one shoe?”

“If Cinderella can do it, so can you.”

“You’re right,” I say, standing up. I point my shoe-covered toe. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Gathering up my dress, I hobble toward the door when it opens, and Dad pops his head in, Mum not so reserved as she barges past him.

“Come on, Elizabeth. Everyone’s waiting.” She gives Fi an awkward glance. “Izzy has emptied her basket of rose petals already, and poor Charlotte keeps picking them up and putting them back in for her.”

Alexis laughs. “Is my daughter fussing over minor perfections?”

Both Mum and Dad say, “Yes.”

She laughs again. “That’s my girl.”

Fi, Mum, Alexis, and Carly file out of the room, and as I’m about to follow them, Dad lets go of the door and gently places his hands on my shoulders.

“My princess—” He clears his throat. “—you look beautiful.”

I slide my arms around his waist. “Thanks, Dad. I feel beautiful.”

“Whether you feel it or not, you always are and always have been.”

Tears once again prick my eyes, and I inwardly curse them. “Stop it. You’re making me cry.”

He reaches into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, pulls out a handkerchief, then gently dabs the tip of it to the corners of my eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you for always having faith in me to find what I was looking for in my own time.”

“I’ve always had faith in you, darling. Your life is your own. It always has been, and it always will be.” He pockets the hankie again. “Now, let’s get you married to your prince.”

Holding out his arm, I loop mine around his and walk beside him.

He stops. “Why are you limping?”

I laugh. “You’ll see.”

* * *

With Dad’s assistance,I hobble down the mahogany spiral staircase and out into the garden, hundreds of white, plump roses in bloom, their sweet perfume filling the air. The sun beams high in the sky, a gentle breeze providing the perfect temperature.

An ivory carpet is rolled between two sections of wooden chairs, each with a powder-blue bow tied to the back, and ahead is an archway into the garden where Izzy, Charlotte, and Brayden cast handfuls of rose petals into the air as they slowly make their way toward Will, Bryce, Derek, and Matt.

One by one, my bridesmaids follow as “Inevitable”, the Live Trepidation marriage song—played at both Alexis and Bryce’s and Carly and Derek’s weddings—sounds through the speakers.

My eyes lock on Will, and I draw in a deep breath, holding it for as long as I can. He stands at the end of the aisle, ruggedly handsome in his tuxedo, my missing glass slipper presented in the palms of his hands.

Choking back tears, I thank my lucky stars he pushed himself into my life. I don’t know how, but he knew me better than I knew myself and persisted when most wouldn’t. He knew we were a pair, and he knew he could give me my happily ever after. This day. This enchanted moment and beyond.

“Ready?” Dad asks.